Fixing device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A fixing device includes a fixing rotator, a pressing rotator, and a guide. The pressing rotator forms a fixing nip with the fixing rotator. The guide guides a recording medium to the fixing nip. The guide includes a guide surface that contacts a surface of the recording medium against a guide the recording medium. The guide surface is provided parallel to a line tangent to the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fixing device comprising:
 a fixing rotator; 
 a pressing rotator to form a fixing nip with the fixing rotator; and 
 a guide to guide a recording medium to the fixing nip, the guide including
 a first guide surface that is a chamfered corner of the guide parallel to a line tangent to the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator at the fixing nip, the line crossing a portion of the guide, and 
 a second guide surface continuous with the first guide surface through a curved portion, the second guide surface extending in a length direction of the guide, 
 
 wherein the first guide surface and the second guide surface each contact a surface of the recording medium to guide the recording medium. 
 
     
     
       2. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first guide surface comprises a downstream end portion in a recording medium conveyance direction, and
 wherein the downstream end portion of the first guide surface is provided on a fixing rotator side relative to the line tangent to the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator. 
 
     
     
       3. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first guide surface is provided on a fixing rotator side relative to the line tangent to the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator. 
     
     
       4. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second guide surface is on an upstream side of the first guide surface in a recording medium conveyance direction, and the second guide surface has an inclined area inclining from the pressing rotator toward the fixing rotator from an upstream side to a downstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction. 
     
     
       5. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first guide surface is made of a resin material. 
     
     
       6. A fixing device comprising:
 a fixing rotator; 
 a pressing rotator to form a fixing nip with the fixing rotator; and 
 a guide to guide a recording medium to the fixing nip, the guide including a guide surface that contacts a surface of the recording medium to guide the recording medium and is parallel to a line tangent to the fixing rotator and the pressing rotator at the fixing nip, the line crossing a portion of the guide, 
 wherein the guide surface is made of a liquid crystal polymer and has a surface roughness of approximately 50 μm to approximately 150 μm. 
 
     
     
       7. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first guide surface is crimped. 
     
     
       8. An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. A fixing device comprising:
 a fixing rotator; 
 a pressing rotator to form a fixing nip with the fixing rotator; 
 a guide to guide a recording medium to the fixing nip, the guide including a first guide surface that is a chamfered corner of the guide provided on an upstream side of the fixing rotator in a recording medium conveyance direction and parallel to a common line tangent to the fixing rotator and an opposite rotator that is disposed opposite a transfer rotator transferring an image to the recording medium to form a transfer nip with the transfer rotator, the line being at the transfer nip and crossing a portion of the guide, 
 wherein the guide includes a second guide surface continuous with the first guide surface through a curved portion, the second guide surface extending in a length direction of the guide, 
 wherein the first guide surface and the second guide surface each contact a surface of the recording medium to guide the recording medium. 
 
     
     
       10. The fixing device according to  claim 9 , wherein the second guide surface is on an upstream side of the first guide surface in the recording medium conveyance direction, and the second guide surface has an inclined area inclining from the pressing rotator toward the fixing rotator from an upstream side to a downstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction. 
     
     
       11. The fixing device according to  claim 9 , wherein the first guide surface is made of a resin material. 
     
     
       12. A fixing device comprising:
 a fixing rotator; 
 a pressing rotator to form a fixing nip with the fixing rotator; 
 a guide to guide a recording medium to the fixing nip, the guide including a guide surface that contacts a surface of the recording medium to guide the recording medium and is provided on an upstream side of the fixing rotator in a recording medium conveyance direction and parallel to a common line tangent to the fixing rotator and an opposite rotator that is disposed opposite a transfer rotator transferring an image to the recording medium to form a transfer nip with the transfer rotator, the line being at the transfer nip and crossing a portion of the guide, 
 wherein the guide surface is made of liquid crystal polymer and has a surface roughness of approximately 50 μm to approximately 150 μm. 
 
     
     
       13. The fixing device according to  claim 9 , therein the first guide surface is crimped. 
     
     
       14. An image forming apparatus comprising the fixing device according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
       15. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the line is coincident with the first guide surface. 
     
     
       16. The fixing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the curved portion has a radius of 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.